Milan is preparing to rewrite the rules of traditional Italian education: The Simona Giorgi Comprehensive Institute has officially adopted the Finnish Organizational Model (MOF) — an approach inspired by the widely admired school system of Northern Europe. While Finland’s educational philosophy has long been praised for its balance, inclusivity, and student well-being, this marks the first time such a model is being fully tested in an Italian public school. And the formula is nothing short of revolutionary: ten-minute lessons, minimal homework, flexible classrooms, and a strong emphasis on students’ well-being and “human time.”

A Quiet Revolution Begins in Milan

The shift is already underway. Around 50 teachers at Simona Giorgi began MOF training in September, and several classes have started pilot activities. The full transition is expected to take effect at the beginning of the 2026–2027 school year. According to the school’s official presentation, the aim is to “significantly renew teaching methods by proposing a dynamic school that analyses each student’s individual educational needs and adopts inclusive, innovative practices that respond effectively to the changes young people and society are experiencing.” In other words: a school shaped around the students, not the other way around.

How the Finnish Model Works

At the heart of MOF is a radically different way of organising the school day.

Shorter Days, Later Start Times

A typical day lasts around five hours, with lessons starting between 9:00 and 9:45. This aligns with research showing that later start times improve concentration, mood, and academic performance.

Frequent Breaks

Between lessons, students enjoy regular pauses of up to 15 minutes, during which they are free to move, stretch their legs, or go outside. The goal is to reduce stress, prevent overload, and maintain steady levels of attention.

Ten-Minute “Micro-Lessons”

The model drastically reduces traditional frontal teaching.
Core explanations typically last around 10 minutes, followed by:

Group work

Hands-on activities

Discussion-based learning

Creative or practical tasks

This structure is designed to keep students engaged while fostering autonomy, collaboration, and real understanding rather than rote memorisation.

Almost No Homework — and Few Tests

One of the most disruptive elements concerns homework, long considered excessive in the Italian system. Under MOF:

Homework becomes minimal or non-existent

Formal tests are rare

Students undergo the classic national exam only at the end of high school

Self-assessment is included alongside numerical grades, helping students understand how to evaluate their own work and progress

For many families, this is one of the most appealing aspects of the reform — and also one of the most hotly debated.

A New Kind of Classroom

To support this new approach, the classrooms themselves are being redesigned. The school explains that MOF requires dynamic, flexible learning environments rather than rows of desks facing the teacher.
Classrooms will include:

Modular furniture forming small work islands

Spaces arranged in a horseshoe shape for discussion

Zones for autonomous study or collaborative tasks

Layouts that can be easily reconfigured depending on the activity

The focus is on creating an environment where movement, interaction, and creativity are not exceptions but essential parts of learning.

A Nordic Vision for an Italian Classroom

By adopting the Finnish-inspired model, Simona Giorgi is positioning itself as a pioneer within Italy’s public school system. If successful, the experiment could influence national discussions on educational reform — especially as families and educators increasingly question long days, heavy workloads, and traditional didactic methods. For now, Milan becomes a testing ground for a question many countries have asked:
Can the Finnish model work elsewhere? In 2026, students and teachers at Simona Giorgi will begin to provide the first real answers.

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